Industrial output in the first three quarters of the year was 1.5% below levels in the same period a year ago, a report from the Statistics Office shows.

The growth recorded in September was exclusively on account of manufacturing companies, which put out 1.4% more than in August. The electricity, gas and steam supply sector recorded a 2% fall and mining and quarrying contracted by as much as 17.3% month-on-month.

Year-on-year, output in manufacturing was down 0.7% and that in mining and quarrying by 19%, while electricity, gas and steam sector recorded a growth of 2.7%.

The output of consumer goods and capital goods increased both at the monthly and annual levels, while intermediate goods industries recorded growth.

The value of stocks was down 0.4% on August and down 5.9% year-on-year.